Decarbonization refers toset of measures and techniques to reduce carbon dioxide (CO) emissions2). By extension, this term is used for all greenhouse gases (GHG).
France's main objective in terms of decarbonization is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The term “decarbonization” is also still used in everyday language (but it is an Anglicism according to the Commission for the Enrichment of the French Language).
France’s decarbonization objectives
National low carbon strategy
Created in 2015, the National Low Carbon Strategy (SNBC) constitutes the framework for action in France in terms of decarbonization and climate change mitigation. The 3e version of this national low carbon strategy was presented in November 2024 (in consultation until December 15, 2024)
It sets France's climate objectives by 2030, with a reinforced ambition: to reduce the level of gross greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in 2030 compared to the 1990 level, which amounts to bringing said emissions around of 270 MtCO2 eq by 2030 (the objective was -40% in the previous SNBC).
To achieve this objective, France will have to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 5% per year between 2022 and 2030.
SNBC 3 also gives “ first thoughts on the decarbonization trajectory for the 2030-2050 horizon ».
Climate and Resilience Law of 2021
Article 301 of the climate and resilience law requires sectors that emit high levels of greenhouse gases to establish a roadmap by bringing together representatives of economic sectors, the government and representatives of local authorities for the sectors in which they exercise a skill.
These roadmaps must specify the actions implemented by each party to achieve the objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions set by the SNBC.
Decarbonization of transport in France
Transport is the leading sector emitting greenhouse gases (GHG) in France (with 131 million tonnes of CO equivalent).2 in 2022, or around 33% of national emissions). It is also the only sector whose emissions increased between 1990 and 2022 (+ 6.5%) and it constitutes the main challenge in terms of decarbonization (in particular because this subject – touching on “ individual freedom » – is very sensitive, as recalled by the ministry Agnès Pannier-Runacher during the presentation of the 3e SNBC).
« Reducing emissions from the transport sector requires action on all levers: controlling demand, modal shift, increasing the occupancy rate for passenger transport (or vehicle loading rate for goods transport) , improvement in the energy performance of means of transport, increase in the share of electric vehicles produced in France and electrification of means of transport/use of low-carbon energies such as biofuels », underlines the SNBC3.
Decarbonization of agriculture
Emissions from the agriculture sector were 74 Mt CO2e in 2022 (i.e. 19% of France’s gross emissions), “ including 59% of emissions linked to livestock farming, 26% linked to crops and 14% linked to combustion in machinery, engines and boilers in the sectors », according to SNBC 3 which takes reference data from Citepa(2).
In the new national low carbon strategy, the modeling exercise must allow “ at this stage for the agriculture sector to reach 67 Mt CO2eq and a final energy consumption level of 48 TWh by 2030 » (diagram below from SNBC 3). This would constitute a 13% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2021 and 2030 levels, with particular action on livestock farming.
Decarbonization of industry
The industry is the 3e sector emitting the most greenhouse gases in France after transport and agriculture (with around 18% of national emissions) but it is the subject of particular attention. The State has made the decarbonization of the economy “ one of the main ambitions of the France 2030 investment plan by devoting half of its total budget (54 billion euros) to it. Objective: halve our industry’s greenhouse gas emissions in 10 years »(3).
Focus on the 50 highest emitting industrial sites in France
The 50 highest-emitting industrial sites in France alone account for 55% of France's industrial emissions. They have been encouraged by the State since 2022 to reduce their emissions accelerated in exchange for public aid.
In November 2023, around thirty manufacturers managing the sites emitting the most CO2 (cement factories, steelmakers, fertilizer manufacturers, agri-food industry) have signed ecological transition contracts with the State (some of which cover several sites).
These actors are(4) :
- alsachimy ;
- Aluminum Dunkirk;
- Arc France ;
- ArcelorMittal ;
- Butachim ;
- Cristal Union ;
- Eqiom ;
- Heidelberg Materials;
- Holcim ;
- Humans;
- LAT Nitrogen ;
- Lhoist ;
- Basell Polyolefines France ;
- Naphtachimie ;
- Saint Gobain PAM Pipeline;
- Petroineos ;
- Roquette Frères;
- Solvay France;
- TotalEnergies Raffinage France;
- Trimet France ;
- Versailles France;
- Vicat;
- Yara France.
On this occasion, the French Ministry of Industry estimated “ between 50 and 70 billion euros » the amount of investments linked to decarbonization and additional costs for companies in 7 years.
The example of Dunkirk, a stronghold of industry to be decarbonized
In April 2024, Roland Lescure (then Minister of Industry and Energy) signed the first ZIBaC (low-carbon industrial zones) agreement in Dunkirk, which aims to finance studies on means of decarbonization by 2030. through Ademe.
« We have signed decarbonization contracts with the 50 highest emitting sites which represent 60% of industry emissions. You have seven here », in Dunkirk, indicated the minister, stressing that these contracts had “ very concrete objectives, with between 45% and 50% of emissions reductions by 2030 ».
With 16 million tonnes of CO2 issued per year, Dunkerque represents “ 5% of France's emissions, so it's about concentrating resources to have maximum impact ».
Comparison between French and German industries
Direct emissions from French industry (known as scope 1, in climate jargon) amounted to 380 grams of CO2 or equivalent per euro of added value in 2021, compared to 290 grams of CO2 for German industry, according to a study published in September 2024 by La Fabrique de l'industrie and the consulting firm McKinsey.
Explanation of the difference: French industry is more represented in high-emitting basic sectors such as metallurgy, chemistry, the manufacture of non-metallic mineral products, paper-cardboard or coking-refining (while German industry is more focused on less emitting sectors, such as automobiles).
More “ by considering the electricity mix of the two countries, the gap between France and Germany is canceled out, or even reversed in certain sectors » due to the very carbon-free French electricity mix according to David Lolo, economist at Fabrique de l'industrie, author of the study. By taking into account the indirect emissions of the energy used in industry (scope 2), the comparison emerges “ systematically to the advantage of France ».
And at the European level?
At the European level, the EU has set(5) as an ambition to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% in 2030 compared to 1990(6).
In February 2024, the European Commission published a communication, recommending a net reduction target of greenhouse gas emissions of 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels.
